Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/646116
maltatoday, SUNDAY, 28 FEBRUARY 2016 4 News Tourism watchdog beefs up task force to clamp down on unlicensed hosts THE Malta Tourism Authority has hired 10 new enforcement officers in recent months in an attempt to clamp down on unlicensed touristic accommodation. MTA communications director Michael Piscopo told MaltaToday that the tourism watchdog's en- forcement section had until recent- ly only employed eight officers. "They were tasked with inspect- ing complaints, pro-actively moni- toring online booking websites, and conducting annual inspections on licensed hosts," he said. "This is time-consuming work, which is why we decided to significantly beef up the enforcement ranks." A 2014 report by George Micallef, former president of the Malta Ho- tels and Restaurants Association, claimed that as many as 10% of all guest nights spent in Malta are in unlicensed accommodation. This would translate to around 5,500 people a year, on each of whom the government would be losing the 7% applicable VAT rate on tourist rentals. Unlicensed hosts are liable to fines ranging between €1,164 and €23,293, but Piscopo admitted that only 54 such fines have been issued since 2010. "I will not venture a guess as to how many unlicensed hosts are out there, but it's a matter of principle – nobody should be allowed to host tourists without an MTA licence." Fresh conditions in pipeline for tourist hosts Apart from clamping down on unlicensed hosts, the government intends to regulate the phenom- enon of shared accommodation, by requiring such hosts to meet certain safety and comfort requirements. It is a move that has long been de- manded by Malta's hoteliers, who fear the "threat" posed to their busi- nesses by the rapid rise of websites such as Airbnb. Tourism reform proposals – drafted this month by a commit- tee chaired by Micallef – call for the introduction of a new 'bed and breakfast' licence for people wishing to earn a quick euro by letting their rooms out to tourists. This will be in addition to the specific licences that are currently issued to hosts of English language students and homeowners letting out their entire properties. Shared accommodation will be subjected to minimum safety and comfort conditions, including the requirement that a responsible per- son is on site at least 12 hours daily. The guest bedroom – which will not be able to house more than four tourists – must come with a win- dow or balcony, and be equipped with cooling and heating systems, a wardrobe, a dressing table, a chest of drawers, a mirror, curtains or blinds, individual bedside reading lights and a bedside table per two guests. Adults will not be allowed to be placed in bunk beds. Internet and a telephone line must be available to guests, breakfast must be provided, kitchen facilities be clean and functioning, and the host properly dressed, clean and well-mannered. The bathroom must be fitted with an internal lock, its wash-hand ba- sin supplied with liquid soap, and its shower continuously supplied with cold and hot water. Hairdryers, sanitary bags and sanitary bins must also be readily available. Licences will be denied to hosts if they or their household members have been convicted of drug-related offences and crimes 'against the good order of families' such as rape, paedophilia, abduction and bigamy. "I understand that some tourists are willing to forfeit standards for a cheap room, but it doesn't pay off in the long run," Piscopo said. "It is all fine until something goes wrong, and the MTA is obliged to ensure comfort, safety and quality to tour- ists, and to ensure that they get val- ue for their money. "More and more tourists are seeking the unique experience that shared accommodation offers, and the growing trend is not going away." The current law does not cater for operators wishing to license such tourism operations and the time has come to adapt the law to reality, while ensuring a level-playing field for all tourism operators. The current reality certainly ap- pears to be a surge in tourists seek- ing "authenticity" over luxury by opting to spend their vacation in private housing. Indeed, 500,284 tourists stayed in such places last year, a notable 18.2% increase over 2014. To put it in perspective, stays at collective accommodation only grew by 1.8%. Over 1,000 properties in Malta are currently listed on Airbnb, ranging from yachts to villas. tdiacono@mediatoday.com.mt Elderly citizens protest changes to Valletta's circular bus hours Elderly citizens resident in Val- letta are up in arms over changes to the timetable of Valletta's cir- cular bus, which they say have made their lives more difficult. Standing outside Castille, Kate Farmillo, 85, Tessie Messina, 73, and Julie Balzan, 72, spoke of the constraints they're facing ever since changes to the route and hours came into force. Some 200 elderly residents have signed a petition urging the Malta Public Transport to bring back the old timetable. Route 133, once operating every half hour going around all the back roads of Valletta, has been scheduled on the hour and chang- es to the route have left the elderly facing a longer walk to get to the bus stages. The residents complained that the changes have left them trapped in their homes, as the last circular bus is schedule at 9pm as opposed to the previous 11pm. Moreover, the decision to halve the frequency of the journey times has made it more cumbersome for the elderly to go for their appoint- ments at the hospital or the Flori- ana health centre. It transpires that talks between the Valletta local council and Transport Malta have been un- derway for almost a year. In a reaction, the Nationalist Party said the hardship faced by the residents was a result of the government's "deceit, corruption and incompetence". Five youths arrested at Gozo port after drug finds FIVE youths were arrested at the port in Mgarr, Gozo on Friday night and Saturday morning when they were found in possession of cocaine and cannabis. In a brief statement, the police said that the five youths, whose ages range between 19 and 23, are from Hamrun and Marsa. Police investigations are ongoing. Tourism reform proposals will require hosts to meet safety and comfort conditions before renting rooms to tourists Are you comfortable? New standards require full comfort for guests, including bedside reading lights